Sectional sole and connecting means therefor



Feb. 22, 1944. H. GHEZ EIAL SECTIONAL SOLE AND CONNECTING MEANS THEREFR Filed June 2', 1942 .\$s.\ a2 8 3 a9 42 40 4/ 38 INVENTORS:

Henry Ghez BY 05cm" Ghez ,zzwz.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 22, 1944 uNrrEosrs'rss entrant o 1=i=ica snorionei. some AND CONNECTING MEANS 'rnnanron Henry Ghee and Oscar Ghez New York, N. Y.

lesbianism June 2, 1942, Serial No. 445,435

a claims. (01. 3--33) This invention relates to soles ior footwear which are made of normally stiii or inflexible material and cut transversely into two or more sections interconnected by means of one or more strips of, flexible material which is preferably resilient. n

The main object of our invention is to utilize available cheap materials for shoe soles which will have certain of the advantages of rubber and leather, while allowing for economical use these two valuable material's.

Another object is to make soles of the character indicated having various forms of conne'cting means. r

A further object is to have connecting means in such soles which serve as hinges and are anchored to the sole sections in secure manner.

Other objects a'ndthe various advantages of our invention will appear more fully as this specification proceeds. r

In order to disclose in a clear manner the salient features oi our invention, severalforms thereof are illustrated by way'of non-limiting examples in the accompanying drawing, in

which, H r

Fig. 1 is plan viewof s'uch a soleas seen from above and divided into two sections and provided with connectin means retaining the sections in assembled relation.

Fig. 2 is another plan view showing a sole divided into three sections which are connected together according to the principles of the invention.

Fig. is aside elevation of the sole of Figure 1; partly in section to disclose detail.

Fig. 4 is a partial perspective of a modification.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation showing another modification.

Fig. 6 is another fragmentary side elevation showing a further modification.

Fig. 7 is likewise a fragmentary side elevation illustrating still another modification utilizing two connecting means spaced above one another.

Fig. 8 is still another modification shown partly in section of the form of the connecting means shown in Figures 1 and 3.

Fig. 9 is also a modification showing how a group of arcuate springs may be used to interconnect the sole sections.

Throughout the View the same references indicate the same or like parts.

In order to economize in the use of leather, rubber and other valuable materials, which are soles of footwear several materials of inherently rigid or inflexible nature by subdividing a sole made of. such material into sections and then connecting the sections by resilient or at least flexible connecting means. The sole itself can well be made of wood, metal, such as aluminum, hard plastic and any other available material which can be handled, while the connecting means are preferably of rubber, leather, flexible plastic, spring steel, beryllium copper in sheets, etc.

Thus, in the practice of our invention andreferring again more particularly to the drawing, Figure 1 shows a sole generally indicated at l divided into sections 2 and 3 having a gap indicated at 4 between them, While the gap is bridged by a connecting member 5 which extends a distance into each of the sole members 2 and 3 forwardly and rearwardly in slots 6 and 1, while rivets, nails or screws 8, 8 extend from the top toward the bottom or vice versa in the sole menu bers through the end of the connecting means 5. Said connecting means is preferably of flexible and/ or elastic plastic material, such as of the vinyl series, or of leathenor even rubber, and it is of course possible to cement the same into the slots which have been cut to receive them in the sole member but cementing riveting, nailing; etc.,-

is optional. It is evident that a' sole thus made and secured to an upper for a shoe, a boot, or sandal would allow flexing of the foot when worn by virtue of the connecting means which allows the forward section 3 to bend upwardly with respect to sole member 2, while retaining the forward section 3 assembled with the rear section 2. As shown in Figure 2 it is obvious that the connecting means need not extend entirely across the width of the shoe but may be subdivided into a plurality of connecting members 9, 9 which interconnect the rear sole member ID with intermediate section II and forward section I! of the sole l3.

In Figure 4 the sole members 2 and 3 are provided with undercut slots I4, l5 into which a connecting member I6 may be introduced by sliding in the enlarged ends i1 and I8 thereof into the slot portions [4 and i5 from the side of sole members 2 and 3. If the portions of the connecting means and/or the interior of the slots have been coated with cement or proper adhesive and then when the connecting means has been slid into place the same is allowed to dry thoroughly, said connecting means will permanentl interconnect the sole sections in resilient manner al-' greatly in demand, it is possible to us for the lowing flexure of the sole as a whole by the construction of Figure 4. In Figure 6 the connecting member 24 has rectangular anchoring ends 25, 26 seated in the sole sections 2 and 3 which may also be inserted and secured as mentioned with reference to Figures 4 and 5. In passing it might be stated that two or more connecting means may be used in spaced relation above each other instead of using merely one or a series in the same plane. This is shown in Figure 7 having the upper connectin means 21 and the lower connecting means 28 preferably one being of rubber or the like and the other of steel, beryllium copper or even rubber or plastic material, both connecting means being parallel and anchored in proper slots 29, 30 in the sole sections. In this case one connecting means will flex, while the other actually tends to stretch.

In Figure 8, the connecting means consists of a substantially flat steel spring 3i interconnecting sections 2 and 3 and with its ends extending into both sections, the two sections having clearances cut away at their inner portions 32, 33 to allow more general flexure of the spring so as to lengthen its radius of bending. The rivets, nails or screws 8, 8 pass vertically through the sole sections and the spring, but said pring is provided with extra large apertures 34, 35 which leave a margin of free space around said rivets or nails, etc., and thus allow a more ready and free flexure of the spring. Due to the resiliency of the spring it is of course evident that the same will tend to return the forward section of the sole into normal alignment when pressure is removed from the same, and it is relieved from direct contact with the floor or pavement, and the sole will therefore act more nearly like an ordinary leather sole and tend to keep the shoe straight. The connecting means need not constitute a single member as already intimated in connection with Figure 2 and Figure '7, but may consist in contrast with Figure 8 of a plurality of spaced arcuate steel springs 36 individually secured to the underside of arched slots 38, 39 in sole sections 2, 3 by means of staples 40, 40 or any other means known in the art. In order to secure the ends of the springs and thereby assist in holding them in place a pair of cleats 4| and 42 are secured in the arched slot or groove portions 38, 39 by means of cement, screws or nails to the sole sections 2, 3 so as to allow the ends of said springs to take against the upper portions of said cleats. The shape of these springs and their location will tend to arrest more or less strongly flexure of the sole by bending of said springs, as such bending will occur by partial straightening of the springs and the arcuate surfaces of the slot portions will also tend to militate against very sharp or too ready flexure not to mention that the very number of springs used will also determine the amount of flexure for a given weight Or pressure applied to the sole.

When the connecting means consists of rubber or some other impervious material and extends the full width of the sole, it is quite obvious that the sole is rendered waterproof as well as flexible.

It is quite clear that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment shown, for the latter are merely presented by way of a few nonlimiting examples, and other modifications and constructions conforming to the principles of the invention may be resorted to Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now fully described our invention, we claim:

1. A sectional sole for footwear made of mally stiff or inflexible material divided transversely into two or more sole sections, and connecting means of flexible material secured to and interconnecting said sole sections so as to retain them in assembled relation and allow one section to alter position angularly with respect the next adjacent section by bending or flexure of the connecting means between them, said connecting means including at least one bent leaf spring occupying open recess portions forming an undercut gap between the same retaining means rigidly disposed upon said sections abutting the ends of said spring, and means securing portions of said spring in the gap to both sections.

2. A sectional sole for footwear made of normally stifi or inflexible material divided transversely into two or more sole sections, and connecting means of flexible material secured to and interconnecting said sole sections so as to retain them in assembled relation and allow one section to alter position angularly with respect the next adjacent section by bending or flexure of the connecting means between them, said connecting means including at least one arcuate spring arched against arcuate portions of two adjacent sections in the gap between the same, means upon said sections disposed in said gap abutting the ends of said spring, and means securing portions of said spring in the gap to both sections.

HENRY GHEZ. OSCAR GHEZ. 

